There has been somewhat of a surge of interest in the subject of cholesterol in recent years and this has led to a wider understanding with regards to the effects it has on our health. The American Heart Foundation along with other such organizations have been integral in recent research into the problems an increased level of cholesterol can cause. It is now common knowledge that eating foods that increase the levels of cholesterol in the blood also increase the risk of heart disease and strokes in later life.
There are many methods of reducing cholesterol in the bloodstream and this can be as simple as exercising more, through to going on a diet and loosing some weight. Recently, there have been a number of prescription drugs released onto the market that have the effect of lowering cholesterol, these are now widely available. These drugs are not without their side effects however, some can even increase the risk of developing heart disease so it is not recommended to opt for medication unless told to do so by a doctor.
There are a great many foods that have the effect of reducing cholesterol and these represent an easy way to reduce cholesterol naturally. Some foods of note are: Fresh fruits and vegetables. These need to be consumed in the quantity of at least five servings a day. The reason fruit and veg is so effective at reducing cholesterol is the fact that they are high in soluble fibre which lowers the level of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream, this is the particular cholesterol that causes all the problems.
Foods to avoid are pretty much anything with high levels of saturated fats used in their production as saturated fat is the main cause of high levels of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream.
Cholesterol is necessary for the body to function correctly and can be found in every cell in the body. This is rather contrary to the general thinking that cholesterol is all bad. The body uses cholesterol to insulate nerves, digest fats, make hormones and to strengthen cell membranes. As you can see the body could not function correctly without it.
Since cholesterol is made in the liver, our body's make all the cholesterol we will ever need, it is the intake of extra cholesterol that causes a problem. An excess of cholesterol in the bloodstream can be very detrimental to your health. The risk of developing heart disease is greatly increased if you have high levels of cholesterol in your blood. This is brought on by the build-up of a plaque on the arterial walls, this can reduce the internal diameter of the arteries significantly often resulting in a heart attack or a stroke.
There are many methods of reducing cholesterol in the bloodstream and this can be as simple as exercising more, through to going on a diet and loosing some weight. Recently, there have been a number of prescription drugs released onto the market that have the effect of lowering cholesterol, these are now widely available. These drugs are not without their side effects however, some can even increase the risk of developing heart disease so it is not recommended to opt for medication unless told to do so by a doctor.
There are a great many foods that have the effect of reducing cholesterol and these represent an easy way to reduce cholesterol naturally. Some foods of note are: Fresh fruits and vegetables. These need to be consumed in the quantity of at least five servings a day. The reason fruit and veg is so effective at reducing cholesterol is the fact that they are high in soluble fibre which lowers the level of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream, this is the particular cholesterol that causes all the problems.
Foods to avoid are pretty much anything with high levels of saturated fats used in their production as saturated fat is the main cause of high levels of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream.
Cholesterol is necessary for the body to function correctly and can be found in every cell in the body. This is rather contrary to the general thinking that cholesterol is all bad. The body uses cholesterol to insulate nerves, digest fats, make hormones and to strengthen cell membranes. As you can see the body could not function correctly without it.
Since cholesterol is made in the liver, our body's make all the cholesterol we will ever need, it is the intake of extra cholesterol that causes a problem. An excess of cholesterol in the bloodstream can be very detrimental to your health. The risk of developing heart disease is greatly increased if you have high levels of cholesterol in your blood. This is brought on by the build-up of a plaque on the arterial walls, this can reduce the internal diameter of the arteries significantly often resulting in a heart attack or a stroke.
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